Ericson 32-3 starboard 22 gal. water tank empties into bilge

[s/v First Light]

This year, for the first time, when I fill the starboard 22 gal. water tank it appears to accept the fill normally but a day later most of the water ends up in the bilge. I’ll now be searching for the leak. Any ideas as to where the leak might be occurring. It looks difficult to access the tank. The port 10 gal. water tank is functioning normally.

 

[Frank Langer]

The pipe connections would be my first check. Is it possible to see a water trail under the floor/ salon boards to indicate a possible source?
Frank

 

[s/v First Light]

The pipe connections would be my first check. Is it possible to see a water trail under the floor/ salon boards to indicate a possible source?
Frank

Thanks for your thought. I’ll start digging into it tomorrow. I also noticed that the potable water pump, when drawing from the starboard tank, is unable to reach shutoff pressure, as it used to, but when switched to drawing from the port tank, it shuts off normally after building pressure. Suggests that the pump is partially sucking air (aerated water) from the starboard tank which would follow if your thought of a failed and leaking pipe connection is the case. We’ll see. Thanks again.

 

[bigd14]

I had one of the female plastic fittings that was “welded” into the tank crack. I considered scrapping the tank but eventually just used some teflon tape and a hose clamp around the fitting to compress it in place around the nipple. That has worked for years.

 

[s/v First Light]

I had one of the female plastic fittings that was “welded” into the tank crack. I considered scrapping the tank but eventually just used some teflon tape and a hose clamp around the fitting to compress it in place around the nipple. That has worked for years.

Thanks. Still digging into it to see what I’ve got going on, leak-wise.

 

[fixntheboat]

On my 1974 32-2 . I found the drain tube for my tank run to a end cap under the galley sink cabinet ,and it was tucked under the cabinets lower edge…I first did not know what it was and now that I chased the tube back to fore tank that it must be to drain the tank, ? To prevent freezing and to flush out. Seams my end cap had been questionably sealed several times,,, just a thought maybe that’s what you got going on not sure how the 32 two varies from the 32 three

 

[s/v First Light]

On my 1974 32-2 . I found the drain tube for my tank run to a end cap under the galley sink cabinet ,and it was tucked under the cabinets lower edge…I first did not know what it was and now that I chased the tube back to fore tank that it must be to drain the tank, ? To prevent freezing and to flush out. Seams my end cap had been questionably sealed several times,,, just a thought maybe that’s what you got going on not sure how the 32 two varies from the 32 three

Thanks for your thought. My 1987 32-3 doesn’t have the third (bow) water tank option but it does have its plumbing for possible future addition. I’m about to run a test on the 22 gal. starboard tank’s outlet connection (gray hose at lower, front end of tank).

 

[windblown]

Thanks for your thought. My 1987 32-3 doesn’t have the third (bow) water tank option but it does have its plumbing for possible future addition. I’m about to run a test on the 22 gal. starboard tank’s outlet connection (gray hose at lower, front end of tank).

Thanks for these great pictures. We’re trying to find the leak in our 32-3 freshwater system. So far, found a loose (ok, broken) connection on the foot pump, broken valve between manifold and foot pump (hidden well behind Graco intake), loose manifold (hidden behind old sound insulation). Now tracing back toward starboard tank. Our starboard tank had a crack where the input hose is attached. We patched that successfully several years ago, we think. Since we de-commissioned the system to find the leak a month ago, we haven’t seen new water in the bilge, so that tells us we’re on the right track.

 

[s/v First Light]

Thanks for these great pictures. We’re trying to find the leak in our 32-3 freshwater system. So far, found a loose (ok, broken) connection on the foot pump, broken valve between manifold and foot pump (hidden well behind Graco intake), loose manifold (hidden behind old sound insulation). Now tracing back toward starboard tank. Our starboard tank had a crack where the input hose is attached. We patched that successfully several years ago, we think. Since we de-commissioned the system to find the leak a month ago, we haven’t seen new water in the bilge, so that tells us we’re on the right track.

You’ve at least determined that the water showing up in the bilge is not from a hull leak or prop shaft packing leak and found that it is definitely a water tank leak. That’s a good thing.

 

[Captain Pete]

After spending way too much time (and money in the swear jar) dealing with a 32-3 and now also a 35-3 with bad water pressure and leaking tanks the usual culprit is one or more pex screw-on fittings, which with age and new england winters easily cracks, letting air in and water out.

The most recent find being a cracked screw-on fitting at the bottom of the port water tank outlet on the 35-3, which was letting all tank water leak into the bilge.

I also found on both boats, which had lengthy periods of little or no use prior to my getting them, that the water manifolds got clogged with unearthly goo.

So replacing the water pump on my 32-3 turned out not to be necessary.

My simple solution is to cut the 1/2' OD pex (cuts easily) and sleeve over 1/2" ID hose with a replacement screw on fitting.

Hose here: https://www.amazon.com/ID-50-Ft-Pre...07W5YZ55P&ref_=pd_basp_d_rpt_ba_s_4_pr_i&th=1

Fitting here: https://www.amazon.com/Fittings-Thr...0B7RYGK4R/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

In my latest efforts, before finding the cracked fittings, I was preparing to just replace pex with the hose and fittings above in hard to access places by taping the hose to the pex to messenger it through and pulling the pex out altogeter.

A couple of pix below of the hose and fittings in action. Also the manifold that was clogged with goo so the od (and new) pump was not able to pull water from the tanks.

 

[s/v First Light]

After spending way too much time (and money in the swear jar) dealing with a 32-3 and now also a 35-3 with bad water pressure and leaking tanks the usual culprit is one or more pex screw-on fittings, which with age and new england winters easily cracks, letting air in and water out.

The most recent find being a cracked screw-on fitting at the bottom of the port water tank outlet on the 35-3, which was letting all tank water leak into the bilge.

I also found on both boats, which had lengthy periods of little or no use prior to my getting them, that the water manifolds got clogged with unearthly goo.

So replacing the water pump on my 32-3 turned out not to be necessary.

My simple solution is to cut the 1/2' OD pex (cuts easily) and sleeve over 1/2" ID hose with a replacement screw on fitting.

Hose here: https://www.amazon.com/ID-50-Ft-Pre...07W5YZ55P&ref_=pd_basp_d_rpt_ba_s_4_pr_i&th=1

Fitting here: https://www.amazon.com/Fittings-Thr...0B7RYGK4R/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

In my latest efforts, before finding the cracked fittings, I was preparing to just replace pex with the hose and fittings above in hard to access places by taping the hose to the pex to messenger it through and pulling the pex out altogeter.

A couple of pix below of the hose and fittings in action. Also the manifold that was clogged with goo so the od (and new) pump was not able to pull water from the tanks.

 

[s/v First Light]

Thanks! I think I can eliminate the water pump (changed 5 seasons ago) because when drawing water from the port water tank it works fine, builds pressure and shuts off as it should. I’m focussed on the starboard tank which is now proven to leak into the bilge. Appreciate your comments on the screw on fittings. Next week, I’ll again pull up the starboard settee and tank cover to expose the starboard water tank, start filling the tank and directly observe the lower screw on fitting (at the gray hose connection).

At 82, I’m getting ready to sell the boat which I had purchased in 2000 from the team doctor of the Green Bay Packers. The boat has always been cruised in the Great Lakes (never been in salt water, no sharks , no salt , stored indoors NEW to 2001). Worth chasing down this water leak issue.